This is what I have to listen to in my lab at the beginning of each school year when high school seniors are conducting research on neuroscience. A public high school may seem like an unusual place for neuroscience research, but the teens I teach are really into it. Let me tell you how we got started.

More than 10 years ago, a major shift at our school saw many freshmen and sophomores registering for AP Biology instead of waiting for their junior or senior years. It occurred to me that after taking AP Biology, some students may wish to explore neurobiology in greater depth, so I created a class called Recent Advances in Neurobiology.

Students John Kim (far left), Jon Sredl, Chris Heo, and John Anderson prepare Dr. Cammer’s head for EEG analysis

It’s pretty much like a graduate school seminar class: students do about 45 pages of reading homework on various topics in neurobiology, then come in and discuss everything they’ve read. Half their grade is based on class participation (i.e., talking, which high schoolers seem to be fond of anyway). Of course, they are “inspired” to come to class prepared because there is a quiz every day. (Yay!)

The topics for reading and discussion are chosen by the students, and throughout the semester we usually cover the neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease, cocaine, synesthesia, marijuana, gender, and stuff like that. The students seem to love the material and the format.

Three years ago we decided to take this neuro stuff a bit further: we created a new Neuroscience Research Laboratory where seniors can work on year-long research projects.

I have students studying the nervous system of the sea slug Aplysia, the escape response in Madagascar hissing cockroaches, and the neurobiology of behavior in crayfish. Other students aredesigning a wheelchair (and other peripherals) to be controlled by brainwaves. This program can be established at almost any high school. All you need is a strong desire and commitment – and a sign that says “We ? Brains,” of course.

Oh, yes. By the end of the first week they know what the purple goo is and they’re picking up the cockroaches. But somehow they still get pinched by the crayfish.

Paul A. Cammer, Ph.D., Director Neuroscience Research Laboratory Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Comments

Submitted by Bubba on October 28, 2010

I am really impressed with this class and have seen, first hand, the caliber of students in this class. It astounds me that students at this early age can be so ultimately advanced beyond most adults on the planet.

Seeing as you puport to be the "Science" behind addiction, don't you think the factualy wrong information regarding a link between canabis and lung cancer needs to be updated or removed? Several studies have shown no link between canabis usage and increased cancer risk, yet this site, an "information centre" continues to argue the opposite.

Sorry this comment isn't particulary related to this article, but more official channels have been total ignored or responded to with form letters claiming ignorance or outright denial.

Just wondering if the overwhelming "protect our childred" ethos in the states will trump facts. (again)

@Adam - You are right that a direct link between marijuana and cancer has not been found. Because many people who smoke marijuana also smoke cigarettes and use other drugs, it is hard to tease out causal factors. Here is what we say in our recent Marijuana Research Report (link to http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/marijuana3.html ): “marijuana has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because it contains irritants and carcinogens—up to 70 percent more than tobacco smoke. It also induces high levels of an enzyme that converts certain hydrocarbons into their cancer-causing form, which could accelerate the changes that ultimately produce malignant cells. And since marijuana smokers generally inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers, the lungs are exposed longer to carcinogenic smoke. However, while several lines of evidence have suggested that marijuana use may lead to lung cancer, the supporting evidence is inconclusive (Hashibe et al. 2006). The presence of an unidentified active ingredient in cannabis smoke having protective properties—if corroborated and properly characterized—could help explain the inconsistencies and modest findings.”

I have seen this classroom first hand; very impressive! Watching these students explore the world of science with such obvious enthusiasm reaffirmed my choice to become a science teacher. Keep up the good work guys!